Meet Natalie Jackson, a dedicated and insightful Continuum of Care Manager who has been making a difference in Homeless Solutions at The Planning Council (TPC) for the past five years.
With a strong background in direct human services, Natalie brings a wealth of experience to her role. Prior to joining TPC, she worked as a substance abuse case manager, batterers’ intervention program case manager, and emergency shelter coordinator – where she was on the frontlines assisting families experiencing homelessness. Natalie holds a B.S. in Sociology from ODU which gives her insight on social systems and shapes how she approaches her work.
In her current position at TPC, Natalie plays a vital role in the Hampton Roads homeless services system. She describes her work as rooted in four key pillars:
Coordination – Ensuring meetings and efforts run smoothly
Collaboration – Making sure the appropriate voices have a seat at the table
Compliance – Abiding by funders’ rules/regulations and overseeing performance
Customer Service – Providing routine technical support
Natalie’s neutral and calm nature is well-suited for the high-pressure, high-volume environment in which she works. Homeless services is already people experiencing a crisis. When you add in the daily emergencies families and providers face, it can feel like putting out fires constantly. It is her steady mind that can overcome these challenges and healthily prioritize urgent matters to keep things moving forward.
Often described as the administrative backbone for the community’s homeless service providers, Natalie helps relieve operational burdens so that providers can focus on what matters most – the clients. Her work fosters community connection, coordination, and progress by bringing together diverse voices to drive improvement in how services are delivered.
What Natalie enjoys most about her role is working alongside the region’s homeless service providers. Their passion is evident in everything they do. They are connected to the day-to-day work, and she gets to help support that.
In addition to working with external partners, Natalie has built strong partnerships within TPC. She describes her coworkers as supportive and committed to understanding one another. Their approach reflects TPC’s workplace culture – one that cares about its employees, listens to their input, and strives to reach compromises that benefit the entire team.
Outside of work, Natalie is an advocate for mental health, self-care, and seeking help when needed. A self-described homebody, she finds joy in reading, listening to K-pop, watching K-dramas, and channeling her inner Beyoncé. But don’t be fooled by her quiet nature – she is not shy to having a good time, especially at concerts with her mom.
Natalie’s impact is a testament to the power of behind-the-scenes leadership and connection. Thank you, Natalie, for your dedication and the critical role you play in enhancing the quality of life of our communities.